BACOLOD City – The Joint Inspection Team of the city government’s Licensing and Permits Division will investigate the “indecent activities” at a restobar along Lacson Street in Barangay 5.
Executive Assistant Sammy Montoyo said the investigation stemmed from a video of women “twerking” on a man’s lap at the restobar.
The video went viral on Facebook and caught the attention of the city government and other government agencies.
Montoyo, who has seen the video, said he will go to the restobar today to check if it has a business permit.
“If none, we will enforce the full force of law against the establishment,” Montoyo stressed.
The executive aide said the video sparked issues on morality that is why “we have to investigate it.”
Montoyo added that he will also see if the restobar management complies with the requirements from the City Health Office.
The results of the visit will be discussed during the Joint Inspection Team’s meeting this week. A recommendation of action will be made.
Meanwhile, Councilor Cindy Rojas said she forwarded the matter to the Women and Children’s Protection Desk of the Bacolod City Police Office.
Rojas – chairwoman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on women and gender – added that the city police will closely monitor the restobar in line with City Ordinance No. 450, which “prohibits the sale of liquor, beer and other intoxicants to persons below 18 years old.”
In a radio interview, restobar owner Jojo Santander said he would never allow such indecent act in his establishment.
Santander added that he was surprised that his restobar – named Peats and Beans – went viral on social media.
He also clarified that his establishment is only “a restaurant and a bar,” not a “disco house.”
Santander said he was abroad when the “twerking incident” happened. He left the restobar to its manager who he did not name.
Barangay 5 captain Raymundo Salaveria said he, his village officials and personnel from the Department of Social Services and Development have inspected the restobar since they observed that most of its customers are minors./PN
